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Orbi WiFi 7 RBE973

970 Wired Backhaul Issue

Chuck_M
Mentor

970 Wired Backhaul Issue

have a new 970 series Orbi with two satellites...  The firmware is V9.12.3.3_1.2.20 on router and on satellites.

 

I am using the 970 in Access Point mode because I have a network appliance running pfSense.

 

My network architecture is straight forward:

 

Cable modem -> pfSense Box -> 2.5Gig unmanged switch

 

Orbi (master/router in AP mode) is plugged into 2.5 Gig switch and shows 2.5 Gig connection

 

Orbi satellites when in wireless backhaul work fine and show up on attached device list and in diagram on App with status of Good.

 

When I connect existing cat 6 to the main ethernet port on a wireless sattelite, that sattelite drops off diagram as well as connected device list - although the switch shows a good 2.5Gig connection to that device. 

 

I have used a cable tester to ensure that cable is working and it gives me a good reading.

 

I have tried installing/reinstalling wired satellite via both the app and the web page.

 

I have tried pressing the synch button which causes the wired satellite's led to blink white - slowly.  The light stops blinking (and turns Blue after about 5 or 6 minutes).  The satellite still does not appear in either the App nor the web page

 

I have factory reset (just the satellite) to no avail.   This is the same cat 6 my Orbi 850 worked flawlessly with on wired backhaul.

 

I guess next step is factory reset everything and try again!?

 

Anyone seen anything like this?

 

 

Message 3 of 9

Accepted Solutions
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: 970 Wired Backhaul Issue

Try the RBS ethernet connected directly to the back of the RBR. Don't connect to the switch to test this. 

 

AP mode has a Dynamic or Static IP address configuration. What wondering what you set the RBR to for the AP mode configuration. 

 

I presume you mean IP address reservation on the host router? Static IP address configuration is set ON devices, not on the host router. 

 

Correct. 

As seen here: 
https://kb.netgear.com/000051205/What-is-Ethernet-backhaul-and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-Sy... 📡 ‌‌🛰

 

That looks line a managed switch vs a non managed switch...if it is, then there will be problems. 
Does that switch have a user accessible web page by chance? 

View solution in original post

Message 7 of 9

All Replies
Chuck_M
Mentor

Re: Orbi 970 wired backhaul?

Installed my 970 today... and have one satellite running wired through a 2.5 gig switch and the other is currently wireless backhaul.  Works like a dream.  Will wire the second one over the next few days when I decide on final placement.  

Message 1 of 9
Chuck_M
Mentor

RBE970 Setup Oddity

Set my new RBE973 up today -- darn near flawless.

 

Here is an interesting minor glitch in the App I experienced during setup.

 

My previous SSID was "Daily Planet" - so I wanted to reuse that so I wouldnt have to reassociate dozens of devices.

 

Within the App, when it came time to name the network (the SSID), the app would not allow spaces... so I ran it together knowing that later I would try and edit it on my PC's configuration screen.  Sure enough, the web configuration allowed spaces, but the App did not.

 

Other than that, a flawless and rediculously simple setup.

 

I will also say the coverage from the router and satellites is impressively larger than that of the RBR/RBS 850s.   I used to use three satellites, now I get excellent coverage with only two in the exact same locations.

 

I was wondering if I could have backed up my configuration on the 850 and used that CFG file to restore to the 970, (but I didnt try it!)  This would have made carrying forward port forwarding, DNS entries, etc. really simple in the upgrade process.

Message 2 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: 970 Wired Backhaul Issue

How are the RBS ethernet connected to the RBR? Directly behind the RBR or to the switch? 

For proper connecting the RBS, should look like this:

Cable modem -> pfSense Box -> RBR>2.5Gig unmanged switch<RBS connected to switch

 

How is the RBR configured for AP mode? Dynamic or Static configuration? 

Best for the RBS to first be wirelessly connected then ethernet connect. 

What is the brand and model# of the non managed switch? 

 

 

Message 4 of 9
Chuck_M
Mentor

Re: 970 Wired Backhaul Issue

One RBS is wireless backhaul and the other is wired backhaul through the unmanaged switch.

 

Regarding AP Mode, it only is AP Mode, there is no other settings that I see.   Please let me know if I am missing something here.  The Router and satellites are on static IPs.

 

As I mentioned, when in wireless mode it appears to work fine, but plug in the ethernet cable for wired backhaul and  it drops off - and does not come back.

 

The 2.5 gig unmanaged switch is from Amazon:

 

24 Port 2.5G PoE Switch Unmanaged with 24 Port 2.5Gb Base-T PoE+@400W + 2 x 10G SFP+ Uplink, NICGIGA 26 Port 2.5Gbe IEEE802.3af/at Power Over Ethernet Switch, Support WiFi6 AP, NAS, 4K PoE Camera NVR.

More details at:   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5L7DG8J?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

 

 

 

Message 5 of 9
Chuck_M
Mentor

Re: 970 Wired Backhaul Issue

Will give this a shot....

 

In summary you said

 

 

Cable - > pfSense -> Orbi Router in AP mode -> Managed Switch -> Satellites and everything else

Message 6 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: 970 Wired Backhaul Issue

Try the RBS ethernet connected directly to the back of the RBR. Don't connect to the switch to test this. 

 

AP mode has a Dynamic or Static IP address configuration. What wondering what you set the RBR to for the AP mode configuration. 

 

I presume you mean IP address reservation on the host router? Static IP address configuration is set ON devices, not on the host router. 

 

Correct. 

As seen here: 
https://kb.netgear.com/000051205/What-is-Ethernet-backhaul-and-how-do-I-set-it-up-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-Sy... 📡 ‌‌🛰

 

That looks line a managed switch vs a non managed switch...if it is, then there will be problems. 
Does that switch have a user accessible web page by chance? 

Message 7 of 9
Chuck_M
Mentor

Re: 970 Wired Backhaul Issue

This is the solution.  The wired backhaul works immediately when plugged into the back of the RBE970.

 

Thanks to you all for your advice.

 

 

Message 8 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: 970 Wired Backhaul Issue

So that points to cabling or lan switch configuration issue. 

 

Enjoy. 

Message 9 of 9
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